What Fondation Hirondelle does

Fondation Hirondelle is a Swiss non-profit foundation headquartered in Lausanne that has produced and supported independent local media in fragile contexts since 1995. It operates a portfolio of branded media programs — including Radio Ndekeluka (Central African Republic), Studio Tamani (Mali), Studio Kalangou (Niger), Studio Sifaka (Madagascar), Studio Hirondelle RDC (DRC), Studio Yafa (Burkina Faso), Studio Hirondelle-Tchad (Chad), JusticeInfo.Net (thematic justice platform) and the Doh Athan podcast (Myanmar) — producing multilingual radio, video, podcast and web content in local languages. The foundation combines content production with media-ecosystem support: it trains local journalists (1,965 people trained in 2025), provides technical infrastructure including radio transmission equipment and solar installations to 413 supported outlets, and runs fact-checking and rumor-tracking workflows through WhatsApp and partner media.

Underlying operations rest on a multi-platform production and distribution architecture spanning radio networks, dedicated websites, Spotify/SoundCloud podcast channels, WhatsApp channels and social media; in 2025 the foundation produced 12,741 hours of audio, 531 hours of video and 4,824 web articles, reaching 944,832 website users and 1,236,647 social-media followers. It employs approximately 30 staff at Lausanne headquarters and more than 250 staff distributed across eleven countries of intervention.

The business model is non-commercial: the foundation is funded by institutional grants from the European Union, Swiss Development Cooperation (DDC), French Development Agency (AFD via CFI) and UK funding bodies, supplemented by private-foundation grants (Fondation Büchi, Fondation Temperatio) and private donations. Services are provided free of charge to populations in crisis; there is no pricing model and no revenue is publicly disclosed.

Name

Fondation Hirondelle

Legal name

Fondation Hirondelle

Website

https://hirondelle.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Fondation Hirondelle is a Swiss non-profit foundation that produces and supports independent local media — radio, podcasts, video and web — for populations in crisis, conflict and democratic transitions across 15 countries. It funds operations through institutional grants and private donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent Media Development Services

NAICS

Broadcasting and Content Providers (516), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (5162)

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Investigative & Nonprofit News Organizations (MPAJADAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Syndication, Licensing & Content Partnerships (Columns, Features, Photos) (MPAJADAI), Public Media Partnerships & Content Co-productions (NGO/Cultural) (MPABADAN)

Keywords

• Independent media production
• Community radio broadcasting
• Journalism training services
• Disinformation fact-checking
• Humanitarian media development

Headquarters

HQ city

Lausanne

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Public Institutional Funding: Funding from public institutional partners including governments and multilateral organizations such as the European Union, Swiss Development Cooperation (DDC), French Development Agency (AFD), and UK funding bodies. These grants fund specific country operations and regional programs.
2. Private Donations: Financial contributions from private donors and individual supporters who contribute to the foundation's general operations and specific projects.
3. Foundation Grants: Grants from private foundations such as Fondation Büchi and Fondation Temperatio that support specific initiatives like the Myanmar podcast program.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Fondation Hirondelle produces and distributes independent, local-language news and information media through a network of community radio stations, multimedia production studios, podcasts, and web platforms serving populations in crisis and post-conflict contexts. It also trains local journalists, supports media outlets with equipment and editorial assistance, and runs fact-checking programs to counter disinformation. The foundation operates 16 current projects in 15 countries, producing over 12,000 hours of audio and 500 hours of video content annually.

Product overview

Fondation Hirondelle is a Swiss non-profit organization that has been producing and supporting independent local media in fragile contexts since 1995. Its portfolio consists of multiple branded media programs (called Studios and radio stations) across Africa, Asia, and Europe, each producing multimedia content (audio, video, web articles) tailored to local communities in conflict, post-conflict, and humanitarian crisis settings. The organization operates a network of 9 current media programs including Radio Ndekeluka (Central African Republic), Studio Tamani (Mali), Studio Kalangou (Niger), Studio Sifaka (Madagascar), Studio Hirondelle RDC (DRC), Studio Yafa (Burkina Faso), JusticeInfo.Net (thematic justice platform), Doh Athan (Myanmar podcast), and Studio Hirondelle-Tchad (Chad). These programs collectively produce over 12,000 hours of audio and 500 hours of video annually, reaching nearly 1 million web users and 1.2 million social media followers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Studio Hirondelle: Regional media production and training cells operated by the foundation in various countries including Tchad, RDC, and others.
• Radio Ndekeluka
• Studio Tamani
• Studio Kalangou
• Studio Sifaka
• Studio Hirondelle RDC
• Studio Yafa
• JusticeInfo.Net
• Doh Athan
• Voix de Toumaï
• What's Happening in Myanmar

Products and services

• Studio Hirondelle-Tchad A multimedia production studio in N'Djamena, Chad that produces the weekly multilingual magazine 'Voix de Toumaï' and digital content to combat disinformation, training local journalists and supporting community media.
• Radio Ndekeluka A community radio station in the Central African Republic producing local news, peacebuilding content, and multilingual programs serving the population of CAR, including programming for social cohesion in conflict-affected areas.
• Studio Tamani A multimedia production studio in Mali producing news and information content in local languages for local communities, supporting the Malian media ecosystem.
• Studio Kalangou A multimedia production studio in Niger producing multilingual news and information content for local audiences and supporting the media ecosystem in the Sahel region.
• Studio Sifaka A multimedia production studio in Madagascar producing news, information, and local-interest content for Malagasy audiences.
• Studio Hirondelle RDC A multimedia production studio in the Democratic Republic of Congo producing news and information content for local communities, including radio, video, and digital formats, with focus on peacebuilding and health-related reporting.
• Studio Yafa A multimedia production studio in Burkina Faso producing news and information content for local audiences in local languages, supporting the Burkinabè media ecosystem.
• JusticeInfo.Net An online news platform dedicated to international justice, transitional justice, and reconciliation reporting, produced by Fondation Hirondelle with global coverage of courts, tribunals, and accountability mechanisms.
• Doh Athan A multi-award-winning human rights podcast on Myanmar, produced in Burmese and English with Frontier Myanmar and supported by Fondation Hirondelle, covering current events, conflict, and human rights issues.
• Voix de Toumaï A weekly multilingual magazine produced by Studio Hirondelle-Tchad in Sara, Chadian Arabic, and French, distributed through a network of partner radio stations across Chad to reach diverse linguistic audiences.

Quantifiable outcome

• Millions of people daily access media supported or created by the foundation
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Frontier MyanmarcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partnership with Frontier Myanmar magazine for the Doh Athan ('Our Voices') podcast on human rights issues. Since 2025, Frontier Myanmar handles full production with financial support from Fondation Hirondelle. Also produces 'What's Happening in Myanmar' long-format podcast.
• Radio Federal FMcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRadio station partnership in Myanmar for broadcasting Doh Athan content in Burmese and Kayah languages, reaching conflict-affected communities and internally displaced persons.
• Partner Radio Stations (Tchad)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of 12-14 partner radio stations across Chad for broadcasting 'Voix de Toumaï' magazine in Sara, Chadian Arabic, and French. Includes support for equipment and solar installations.
• Tchad InfominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChadian media outlet collaborating on co-productions for digital content and fact-checking.
• N'Djam PostminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChadian newspaper partnering with Studio Hirondelle Tchad for content co-production and disinformation verification.
• Saô CheckminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFact-checking initiative in Chad working with Studio Hirondelle Tchad on verification of false information.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Deutsche Welle Akademie: Germany's international media development arm, providing journalism training, editorial consulting, and capacity building in transition and conflict settings — directly comparable mandate and Western-donor-funded structure.
• Internews: US-headquartered non-profit that supports independent media and information access in fragile and developing contexts worldwide, including journalist training and media outlet support — the closest direct analog to Fondation Hirondelle's model.
• International Media Support (IMS): Denmark-based non-profit working to strengthen media in conflict, crisis, and transition countries through training, production support, and policy work — a close peer in both mandate and donor ecosystem.
• BBC Media Action: The BBC's international development charity producing media in low-income and crisis-affected countries to inform audiences and support governance — directly comparable mission and operational footprint.
• CFI (Canal France International): French media development agency funded by AFD that supports media outlets and journalism in developing and crisis-affected countries, including the Sahel — a partner and structural peer to Fondation Hirondelle.
• Free Press Unlimited: Dutch non-profit that supports independent journalism and media pluralism in restrictive and fragile environments, often partnering with local outlets on cross-border reporting — comparable operating model.

Others

• Reporters Without Borders (RSF): Paris-based press freedom advocacy organization focused on journalist safety, censorship monitoring, and policy advocacy — adjacent rather than directly competitive since RSF does not run production studios.
• International Crisis Group: Think tank producing policy analysis on conflict-affected and fragile states — addresses the same geographies and donor audience but through analysis rather than media production.
• Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ): US-based non-profit that promotes press freedom and documents attacks on journalists worldwide — operates in the same fragile-context media ecosystem but through advocacy and reporting rather than in-country production.
• Search for Common Ground: International conflict transformation non-profit that uses media (radio, TV, community programming) as a peacebuilding tool — overlapping methodology and donor base but with a wider scope beyond journalism.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/fondationhirondelle
• Xx.com/FondHirondelle

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fondation Hirondelle